Question

Nerelee works as a support worker in a home and community care setting. As part of her role, Nerelee assists with showering, grooming and dressing people in their own home. Nerelee’s workplace has WHS policies and procedures that aim to ensure a person’s home is as safe as possible, for both the support workers, and the people receiving care. Nerelee is aware that there are specific safety requirements that apply to working in a home and community care setting.

Q10: What important information regarding behaviours of concern should Nerelee be aware of, in order to minimise risk to her personal safety? (Approx. 75 words that you can present in a bullet point list if you wish)

Q11: List three potential sources of infection Nerelee needs to be aware of in her work and explain why minimising the risk of infection is such a high priority in support work. (Approx. 80 words).

Answer 1

1. What important information regarding behaviours of concern should Nerelee be aware of, in order to minimise risk to her personal safety?

Ans:-

As a healthcare support worker, you will be responsible for assisting and caring for patients in a fast-paced and dynamic clinical environment. You will be expected to change dressings, take vital signs, and ensure that each patient has a comfortable and safe area to recover in. Some healthcare support workers assist nurses and other higher-level medical workers with day-to-day operational tasks.

Healthcare Support Workers Job Responsibilities and Duties:

· Assist patients with basic hygiene activities.

· Administer medication to patients.

· Take vital signs and report findings to superiors.

· Collect, store, and label biological specimens.

· Sterilize medical equipment.

· Keep hospital supplies properly stocked and organized.

· Work closely with other healthcare professionals such as nurses, physicians, and therapists in order to provide patients with exceptional care.

· Dispose of waste and hazardous materials.

· Comply with all hospital rules, regulations, and procedures.

· Healthcare Support Workers Skills and Qualifications.

· Superior communication skills.

· Excellent bedside manners and etiquette.

· Ability to analyze basic medical information and data.

· Ability to successfully work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.

· Willingness to maintain a professional demeanor at all times.

· Prior experience in a hospital or clinical environment.

· Knowledge of basic phlebotomy procedures.

· Ability to work with other employees in order to achieve various goals.

· Understanding of medical confidentiality laws and practices.

Here are some tips to help make your workplace safe.

· Understand the risks.

· Reduce workplace stress.

· Take regular breaks.

· Avoid stooping or twisting.

· Use mechanical aids whenever possible.

· Protect your back.

· Wear protective equipment to suit the task.

· Stay sober.

The standard infection control precautions that follow should be used in every home.

o The based environment where services are provided. Standard infection control precautions.

• Effective hand hygiene
• Use of PPE
• Use of aseptic techniques
• Safe management of sharps
• Maintain a clean physical environment
• Clean reusable items after each use
• Mplement respiratory precautions
• Handle and dispose of waste materials appropriately

Minimise injury to self and clients Injuries in the home-based environment can occur to both the care support worker and those receiving care as a result of hazards present in the home-based environment. These hazards may be due to the physical environment, the nature of tasks being performed or as a result of the behaviour of the people involved. All care support workers have a duty of care to participate in hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control processes to minimise the risk of injury to themselves and those receiving their care. Here is a sample hazard checklist that may be used to assess in the home-based environment to reduce the risk of injury to both workers and those receiving care.

Face masks and goggles It is important to ensure that contaminated substances do not come into contact with your mucosal surfaces, including your eyes, nose, mouth and airways. You may, therefore, be required to use masks and protective eyewear to reduce the risk of exposure from splashes or sprays of blood and other body substances. If a procedure has a known risk of potentially generating splashes of blood, body substances, secretions or excretions then a face shield or a mask should be worn, along with protective eyewear.

2. List three potential sources of infection Nerelee needs to be aware of in her work and explain why minimising the risk of infection is such a high priority in support work.

Ans:-

In order to manage workplace health and safety and help prevent accidents and sickness absence, it’s important to identify, monitor and reduce the risk associated with workplace hazards.

What are workplace hazards?

Simply put, workplace hazards are any aspect of work that cause health and safety risks and have the potential to harm.

Some hazards are more likely to be present in some workplaces than others, and depending on the work that you do, there will be hazards that are more or less relevant to your business.

What are the most common workplace hazards?

There are many types of workplace hazards, which tend to come under four main categories:

• Physical hazards – the most common workplace hazards, including vibration, noise and slips, trips and falls.
• Ergonomic hazards – physical factors that harm the musculoskeletal system, such as repetitive movement, manual handling and poor body positioning.
• Chemical hazards – any hazardous substance that can cause harm to your employees.
• Biological hazards – bacteria and viruses that can cause health effects, such as hepatitis, HIV/AIDS and Legionnaire’s disease. Common health risks

Some of the most common health risks associated with workplace hazards include:

· Breathing problems.

· Skin irritation.

· Damage to muscles.

· Bones and joints.

· Hearing damage.

· Reduced wellbeing.

· How to prevent workplace hazards

The best way to protect yourself and your employees from workplace hazards is to identify and manage them and take reasonable steps to prevent their potential to harm.

In order to control workplace hazards and eliminate or reduce the risk, you should take the following steps:

· Identify the hazard by carrying out a workplace risk assessment.

· Determine how employees might be at risk.

· Evaluate the risks.

· Record and review hazards at least annually.

· Earlier if something changes.

Why workplace safety is important?

Workplace safety is very important for each and every employee in the industry because all the workers desire to work in a safe and protected atmosphere. Health and safety is the key factor for all the industries in order to promote the wellness of both employees and employers. It is a duty and moral responsibility of the company to look after the employee’s protection.

Good Personal Safety Habits Mean Less Stress That's why adopting good habits that will improve your personal safety will also reduce the stressors in your life. Make personal safety a daily habit, and you'll also improve your overall health and well-being by avoiding illness and injury and reducing stress